973.562 

Sm5e 

cop. 4   SMITH 


THE  EXPEDITION  AGAINST 
THE  SAUK  AND  FOX  INDIANS, 
1832 


LIB  R.AFLY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY 
OF    ILLINOIS 


IlUNOtS  WSTORICAL  SURVEY 


The  Expedition  Against  the 

Sauk  and  Fox  Indians 

1832 


The   Expedition    Against   the 
Sauk  and  Fox  Indians 

1832 


The  following  narrative  of  the  Expedition  against  the  Sauk  and 

Fox  Indians,  last  year,  has  been  kindly  furnished  to  the 

Military    and    Naval    Magazine    by     an    Officer 

who  served  in  General  Atkinson's  Brigade. 


Reprinted  from  the 

Military  and  Naval  Magazine  of  the  United  States  of  August  1833. 
New  York,  1914 


OF  lUF.O'.S  LIBRARY 
;$&.  HUM* 


_ 
-3jZ-^ 


Indian  Campaign  of  1832 

The  Sauks  and  Foxes,  forming  one  nation  of  Indians,  occu- 
pying, until  1831,  more  or  less  of  the  country  on  both  banks  of 
the  Mississippi,  for  about  150  miles  above,  and  the  same  dis- 
tance below,  Rock  Island,  have  always  manifested,  as  a  peo- 
ple, a  hostile  feeling  towards  the  people  of  the  United  States. 
During  the  war  with  Great  Britain,  they  were  active  and  ex- 
ceedingly useful  allies  of  the  English ;  repeatedly,  and  ( as  they 
boast)  always  successfully  engaged  against  us.  Several  detach- 
ments of  our  army  and  militia  were,  previously  to  1815,  de- 
feated by  this  warlike  people.  Since  the  latter  date,  the  hostile 
feeling  has  been  openly  shown,  only  by  a  portion  of  the  com- 
bined nation  (Sauks  and  Foxes)  called  the  "British  Band,"  of 
which  a  chief  called  Muck-ut-tay  Mich-e-kaw-kaik  (the  cele- 
brated Black  Hawk)  was  the  head.  This  band  occupied  the 
territory  on  the  east  bank  of  the  Mississippi,  principally  along 
the  Rock  River,  and  ordinarily  numbered  about  400  warriors 

By  a  treaty,  duly  signed  and  ratified,  the  Sauks  and  Foxes, 
previously  to  1831,  conveyed  that  portion  of  their  country  ly- 
ing east  of  the  Mississippi,  to  the  United  States ;  and  our  set- 
tlers advanced  to  the  shores  of  Rock  river;  the  Indians  so 
far  acknowledging  the  treaty  as  to  abandon  the  country  and 
cross  the  Mississippi,  where  the  majority  (if  not  all)  took  up 
their  residence  for  a  time. 

In  1831  (the  spring)  Major  General  Gaines,  commanding 
the  western  department,  learned,  by  express,  that  the  Indians  in 
great  numbers  had  re-crossed  the  river,  commenced  a  system  of 
aggression  on  the  whites,  and,  by  threats,  and  in  some  instances 
by  violence,  had  driven  off  many  families,  and  bade  fair  to  suc- 
ceed in  their  design  of  breaking  up  the  settlements  along  the 


INDIAN  CAMPAIGN  OF  1832 


frontier  of  Illinois.  The  General  promptly  moved,  with  such 
troops  as  he  could  find  disposable,  (the  6th  regiment  and  a 
small  portion  of  the  3rd)  to  the  scene  of  difficulty.  Here  he 
found  the  tone  of  the  Indians  so  high,  and  their  deportment 
so  insufferably  insolent,  that,  apprehending  the  necessity  of  an 
immediate  resort  to  blows,  he  called  on  the  Governor  of  Illi- 
nois for  an  auxiliary  force  of  mounted  militia,  and  made  prep- 
arations to  enforce  the  demand  he  had  already  made  of  the  In- 
dians, to  evacuate  the  ceded  territory.  After  much  delay,  and 
an  unusual  display  of  reckless  audacity  *  on  the  part  of  the 
Sauks  and  Foxes,  they  finally  crossed  again  to  the  west  side 
of  the  river,  and  executed  a  treaty,  one  article  of  which  sol- 
emnly stipulated,  that  they  never  would  land  again  on  the  east 
bank  of  the  Mississippi,  without  the  consent  of  the  President 
of  the  United  States  and  the  Governor  of  Illinois. 

Within  four  months  after  the  signing  of  this  treaty,  a  num- 
erous war  party  of  this  very  band  ascended  the  Mississippi, 
landed  on  the  east  bank,  and  within  the  limts  of  the  American 
village  of  Prairie  des  Chiens,  attacked  a  body  of  Menominies, 
(a  nation  distinguished  for  their  unalterable  friendship  for  the 
United  States)  and  murdered,  it  is  believed,  twenty-eight  indi- 
viduals. It  was  for  the  purpose  of  demanding  and  obtaining 
the  leaders  in  this  outrage  on  our  flag  and  laws,  that  Brigadier 
General  Atkinson  was  ordered  with  his  regiment  (the  6th)  to 
ascend  the  Mississippi,  in  the  spring  of  1832 ;  and  although  cir- 
cumstances have  shown,  that  the  Secretary  of  War,  with  the 
acuteness  of  judgment  for  which  he  is  distinguished,  aided  by 
a  thorough  knowledge  of  the  Indian  character,  clearly  ^fore- 
saw the  result  to  which  the  disposition  of  the  Indians  would 

*The  Indians  came  openly  armed  into  council  with  the  General— a  proceeding,  it  is  believed 
without  precedent  among  them.  They  used  in  speech  the  most  violent  and  threatening  lan- 
guage and  gestures.  Had  not  the  General  felt  compassion  for  their  infatuation,  he  would 
probably  have  chastised  them  on  the  spot. 


INDIAN  CAMPAIGN  OF  1832 


lead;  yet  very  few  others   anticipated   any   occurrences  more 
bloody  than  those  of  the  preceding  spring. 

On  the  8th  April,  '32,  the  force  under  Gen.  Atkinson, — six 
companies  of  the  6th  regiment,  with  an  aggregate  of  about  280, 
embarked  at  Jefferson  Barracks,  and  proceeded  up  the  river, 
in  obedience  to  the  orders  before  mentioned.  At  the  Des 
Moines  Rapids  ( 200  miles  above)  it  was  first  learned  by  the  de- 
tachment, that  the  Indians  meditated,  not  only  resistance  to 
the  demand  for  the  surrender  of  the  murderers,  (which  talks 
with  some  of  the  frontier  commanders  had  taught  them  to  ex- 
pect), but  of  the  seizing  and  holding  the  territory,  "the  debate- 
able  land,"  which  they  had  already  twice  or  thrice  ceded  to  the 
United  States.  Accounts  here  gave  the  number  of  warriors  at 
between  600  and  800,  who  had  already  ascended  the  river  to- 
wards Rock  Island.  The  detachment  of  General  Atkinson  ar- 
rived at  Rock  Island  about  the  12th  April,  and  there  ascer- 
tained that  on  that  day,  or  the  day  before  or  after,  the  Indians 
had  entered  the  mouth  of  Rock  River,  and  were  ascending  it. 

The  General  also  received  correct  and  undoubted  informa- 
tion of  their  numbers  and  condition.  Different  traders  and 
others  had  carefully  counted  them,  and  reported  the  number  of 
efficient  warriors  to  be  about  650,  consisting  of  the  British 
band  (the  Black  Hawk's)  the  friends  of  the  war  party  who  had 
committed  the  murders  at  Prairie  des  Chiens,  and  about  120 
Kickapoos.  They  were  subsequently  joined,  on  Rock  River, 
by  the  Prophet's  band.  About  450  of  this  force  was  mounted : 
and  it  is  but  doing  them  justice  to  say,  that  they  were  very  ef- 
ficient cavalry,  armed  with  good  guns,  spears,  and  tomahawks, 
on  well  trained  horses ;  they  never,  it  is  believed,  came  in  con 
tact  with  our  mounted  force  (both  parties  mounted)  that  the 
Indians  did  not  come  off  the  victors,  whatever  might  be  the  dis- 
parity of  numbers.  Under  their  intention  of  holding  the  coun- 
try, the  Indians  had  brought  with  them  their  families,  and  their 


INDIAN  CAMPAIGN  OF  1832 


moveables  of  every  description.  They  had  said  to  many  trad- 
ers, that  they  were  "going  to  keep  possession  of  their  old  hunt- 
ing grounds,  and  would  never  turn  their  faces  to  the  west  again ; 
that  they  would  not  strike  the  first  blow,  but  that  if  the  Amer- 
icans attempted  to  drive  them  back,  they  were  able  and  willing 
to  give  the  whites  war  to  their  hearts'  content"  Accordingly, 
their  course  up  the  Mississippi  and  Rock  River  was,  for  some 
time,  marked  with  great  forbearance  and  moderation. 

General  Atkinson  immediately  summoned  such  of  the  chiel. 
of  the  nation  as  had  not  participated  in  the  movement — at  the 
head  of  whom  was  Pask-e-paw-ko,  Waw-pel-to,  and  Ke-o-kuck> 
demanded  of  them  such  of  the  murderers  as  were  within  their 
power,  and  warned  them  of  the  consequences  which  would  re- 
sult to  them  on  their  joining  or  aiding  the  invading  bands.  The 
murderers  (three  being  all  within  the  control  of  these  chiefs) 
were  promptly  surrendered,  and  the  General  was  assured  of 
the  fidelity  of  the  chiefs  towards  the  government  of  the  United 
States.  The  conference  was  ended  by  an  order  from  the  Gen- 
eral for  the  friendly  Indians  to  return  to  their  homes  west  of 
the  Mississippi,  and  remain  there. 

Two  messengers,  one  a  friendly  Sauk  chief,  the  son  of  Tay- 
e-mah,  and  the  other  a  half-breed,  whose  father  was  a  French- 
man, and  his  mother  a  Sauk  woman,  were  despatched  to  the 
Black  Hawk,  by  Gen.  A.  not  only  officially  ordering  him  and 
his  people  (in  the  name  of  the  President)  to  return,  but  indi- 
vidually advising  him  of  the  consequences  of  his  persisting  in 
his  present  enterprise.  The  demand  for  the  surrender  of  the 
murderers  was  also  made. 

Up  to  this  time  it  appeared  to  have  been  the  general  belief 
among  the  officers  of  the  army,  as  it  certainly  was  the  opinion 
of  the  writer  of  this,  that  the  Indians,  almost  always  "more 
sinned  against  than  sinning,"  would,  under  the  forbearing,  dig- 
nified and  determined  course  pursued  by  the  General,  be  brought 

6 


INDIAN  CAMPAIGN  OF  1832 


to  a  sense  of  their  conduct  and  situation,  and  induced  to  com- 
ply with  the  demands  of  the  government.  But  we  were  soon 
undeceived;  the  messengers  returned,  greatly  alarmed,  after 
having  been  abused  and  insulted,  and  compelled  to  escape  at 
the  risk  of  their  lives.  They  brought  from  the  Indians  the  most 
insolent  and  bullying  replies  to  the  General's  message — gener- 
ally, in  amount,  ridiculing  his  demands,  and  challenging  the 
Americans  to  come  against  them.  About  this  time,  also,  Hen- 
ry Gratiot,  Esq.,  the  sub-agent  for  the  Winnebagoes  of  the 
mining  country,  obeying  the  impulse  of  his  duty,  intrepidly 
proceeded  to  the  Black  Hawk's  camp,  (near  the  Prophet's  vil- 
lage) for  the  purpose  of  holding  a  council  with  the  chiefs,  to 
ascertain  their  object,  and  to  warn  them  to  return.  The  Indi- 
ans not  only  refused  to  hear  him,  but  tore  down  his  American 
flag,  erected  the  British  flag,  and  took  Mr.  G.  prisoner.  There 
is  little  doubt  that  his  fate  would  have  been  sealed,  but  for  the 
interposition  of  the  Winnebagoes,  who  purchased  him  of  the 
Sauks,  and  restored  him  to  liberty.  We  also  learned,  that 
the  Sauks  and  Foxes  had  been  instigated  to  their  present  course 
by  the  Prophet,  (Waw-be-ka-s chick)  or  the  "white  cloud,"  a 
half  Winnebagoe  and  half  Sauk,  and  possessing  much  influence 
with  both  nations  from  his  assumption  of  the  sacred  character, 
from  his  talents,  his  inveterate  hostility  to  the  Americans,  and 
his  cold-blooded  cruelty. 

General  Atkinson,  an  officer  possessing  all  the  requisites  for 
command — military  skill,  undaunted  courage  and  perseverance, 
together  with  a  knowledge  of  the  Indian  character,  now  com- 
menced vigorous  preparations  for  a  campaign.  He  ordered 
such  troops  as  could,  with  safety,  be  called  from  Forts  Craw- 
ford and  Leavenworth,  to  reinforce  him;  and  was,  in  conse- 
quence, joined  at  Rock  Island  by  four  companies  of  the  1st 
Infantry,  and  subsequently  at  Dixon's  Ferry,  by  two  more  com- 
panies of  the  6th  regiment  from  Fort  Leavenworth.  He  took 


INDIAN  CAMPAIGN  OF  1832 


measures  for  collecting  provisions  and  stores,  and  means  for 
their  transportation ;  a  work  of  exceeding  difficulty  under  all 
the  circumstances,  but  in  the  execution  of  which  he  would  doubt- 
less have  encountered  greater  delays,  but  for  the  efficient  assis- 
tance derived  from  the  different  branches  of  the  general  staff. 
He  notified  the  Governor  of  Illinois,  (Reynolds)  that  the  In- 
dians had  ascended  Rock  River,  and  entered  the  territories  of 
the  State  in  a  hostile  attitude.  Lastly,  the  General  took  meas- 
ures to  secure  the  neutrality  of  the  adjoining  Indian  nations, 
or  should  he  deem  it  proper,  their  assistance.  These  prepara- 
tions detained  the  troops  at  Rock  Island  three  or  four  weeks, 
during  much  of  which  period,  the  weather  was  unusually  cold 
and  rainy,  and  our  tents  quite  unfit  for  service,  and  useless  as 
u  shelter. 

About  the  9th  day  of  May,  provisions  and  boats  having  been 
collected,  and  a  force  of  1,800  militia  (1,500  of  whom  were 
mounted)  arrived,  who  had  been  ordered  by  Governor  Reynolds 
to  report  themselves  to  the  commander  of  the  United  States' 
troops ;  our  force  moved  up  Rock  River ;  the  regulars  and  a 
battalion  of  militia  infantry  under  the  command  of  Col.  Tay- 
lor, 1st  infantry  and  the  mounted  force  under  Brigadier  Gen. 
Whitesides.  Governor  Reynolds  accompanied  this  latter  corps 
in  person.  The  mounted  brigade  was  ordered  to  proceed  to 
the  Prophet's  village,  about  30  or  40  miles  by  land,  and  60  or 
70  by  water;  while  the  regular  force  was  charged  with  the  se- 
vere and  unpleasant  duty  of  dragging  up  the  river  the  provi- 
sions and  stores  for  the  whole,  in  boats,  one  a  keel  of  90  tons, 
one  of  30  tons,  and  a  number  of  Mackinac  boats.  It  is  unneces- 
sary to  describe  this  duty,  further  than  to  say  that  the  weather 
was  cold;  and  that  for  many  days  the  troops,  so  employed, 
had  not  a  dry  thread  on  them;  compelled  to  wade  against  a 
rapid  stream,  dragging  or  lifting  the  boats  along,  from  day- 
break until  night.  On  our  arrival  at  the  Prophet's  village,  it 

8 


INDIAN  CAMPAIGN  OF  1832 


was  found  that  the  mounted  militia  had  advanced  to  Dixon's 
Ferry.  About  30  miles  below  the  last  named  point,  an  ex- 
press informed  our  commander  of  the  defeat  of  a  battalion  of 
the  militia,  under  Major  Stillman;  and  the  troops  were  has- 
tened forward  with  all  possible  despatch.  At  Dixon's  Ferry, 
about  120  miles  from  the  Mississippi,  (by  water)  we  learned 
the  particulars  of  the  first  affair. 

Major  Stillman,  commanding  a  volunteer  battalion  of  Illinois 
militia,  who  had  joined  Govemor  Reynolds  at  Dixon's  Ferry, 
and  never  been  for  a  moment  under  the  orders  of  Gen.  Atkin- 
son, had  been  detached  by  the  Governor,  at  his  own  solicitation, 
to  endeavour  to  ascertain  the  position  of  the  Indians.  De- 
ceived by  some  individuals,  who  assured  him  that  they  had  rec- 
onnoitred the  country  for  45  miles  above  Whiteside's  camp, 
and  that  there  were  no  Indians  within  that  distance,  Stillman 
encamped  an  hour  before  sunset,  at  25  miles  from  Dixon's, 
in  a  well-chosen  position,  on  a  stream,  since  called  Stillman' s 
run.  Very  soon  after  pitching  tents  and  unsaddling,  some  In- 
dians were  discovered  on  the  open  prairie,  at  a  mile  or  two  dis- 
tance. The  camp  entirely  filled  a  small  open  wood,  which 
was  on  every  side  surrounded  by  open  and  clear  prairie,  slight- 
ly undulating;  the  strongest  fortress  could  hardly  have  been 
more  efficiently  defended  against  a  savage  force  than  the  camp 
in  question,  where  an  hundred  men  ought  to  have  repulsed  ten 
times  their  numbers  of  an  attacking  force.  On  the  discovery 
of  the  Indians,  (  only  two  or  three  in  number)  the  militia  sallied 
out,  as  all  agree,  in  great  confusion — some  with  saddles,  and 
some  without,  and  pursued  and  captured  these  Indians.  Some 
one  called  out  that  three  or  four  others  were  in  sight ;  on  which 
another  pursuit  occurred,  in  still  greater  disorder:  the  last  In- 
dians were  overtaken,  and  two  of  them  killed,  it  is  said  unre- 
sistently  and  without  provocation.  In  a  few  minutes  others 
were  descried  advancing;  their  numbers,  no  doubt,  appeared 

9 


INDIAN  CAMPAIGN  OF  1832 


in  the  dusk  of  the  evening  much  greater  than  they  really  were, 
and  a  panic  seized  the  whites.  "Sauva  qui  pent"  was  the  word; 
or,  rendered  into  backwoods  English,  "the  devil  take  the  hind- 
most !"  and  the  whole  corps  fled,  without  firing  a  well-directed 
shot.  They  passed,  running  directly  through  their  camp, 
plunged  into  the  creek,  and  did  not  halt  until  they  arrived  at 
Dixon's  where  they  came  straggling  in  for  twenty  hours.  Twelve 
of  the  whites  and  four  of  the  Indians,  including  those  first  wan- 
tonly slain,  were  killed.  It  is  asserted  by  the  enemy  that  this 
rout  was  caused  by  less  than  one  hundred  Indians,  and  the  pur- 
suit continued  through  the  night  by  less  than  thirty.  There 
were  doubtless  many  gallant  fellows  in  Stillman's  corps,  and  it 
is  difficult  to  account  for  this,  as  well  as  other  similar  affairs, 
between  the  whites  and  the  Indians,  save  by  attributing  it  to 
want  of  discipline,  and  of  mutual  confidence  among  themselves. 
The  army  continued  their  advance  up  Rock  River  to  Still- 
man  s  run,  having  left  the  defeated  corps  to  guard  the  sick, 
wounded  and  provisions  at  the  depot  at  Dixon's.  At  Stillman's 
run,  Gen.  Atkinson  was  overtaken  by  an  express,  with  intelli- 
gence that  the  corps  left  to  guard  the  depot  had  determined  to 
abandon  their  charge  and  return  home.  He  also  ascertained 
that  the  enemy  had  moved  rapidly  up  Sycamore  Creek  (called 
by  the  Indians  "Kish-waw-kee")  towards  its  head.  The  mount- 
ed force  (now  about  2,000)  was  despatched  in  pursuit,  and  the 
regular  infantry  ordered  to  occupy  the  depot  at  Dixon's  Ferry. 
Whitesides  accordingly  moved  up  Sycamore  Creek  with  his  com- 
mand for  two  or  three  days  pursuing,  without,  however,  be- 
ing able  to  get  sight  of  the  enemy.  The  next  intelligence  from 
this  corps,  received  by  the  General  gave  the  information  that 
they  had  proceeded  across  the  country  to  the  Illinois  River, 
and  disbanded  themselves,  or  been  discharged.  This  was  said  to 
have  been  brought  about  from  some  cause  connected  with  the 
local  political  parties  of  the  State. 

10 


INDIAN  CAMPAIGN  OF  1832 


The  General,  with  his  staff,  immediately  proceeded  across  the 
country,  to  the  Illinois  River,  and  by  much  exertion  succeeded 
in  inducing  a  few  companies  of  mounted  men  to  volunteer  to 
assist  in  protecting  the  settlements. 

Within  a  few  hours  after  the  General's  departure,  intelligence 
arrived  at  the  Ferry,  by  expresses,  that  the  enemy  had  struck 
the  settlements  at  different  points,  80  or  90  miles  apart,  and 
committed  butcheries  with  all  the  accustomed  horrors  of  Indi- 
an warfare.  On  the  same  da}7,  the  report  of  a  few  mounted  men 
of  the  disbanded  militia,  who  arrived,  induced  the  serious  appre- 
hension, that  the  General  had  been  cut  off  in  his  journey  across 
the  country.  Fortunately  our  fears  proved  to  be  without  foun- 
dation. Among  the  sufferers,  the  fate  of  no  one  excited  more 
sympathy  than  that  of  Felix  St.  Vrain,  Esq.,  Indian  Agent  for 
the  Sauks  and  Foxes,  who  had  accompanied  the  arrny  to  Dix- 
on's  Ferry,  where  he  had  obtained  leave  to  return  and  secure 
his  family  at  Rock  Island.  On  his  way  to  Galena,  with  a  par- 
ty of  seven  men,  they  were  attacked  by  a  large  party  of  Indians 
commanded  by  the  Prophet,  and  Mr.  St.  Vrain  and  three  others 
most  barbarously  murdered ;  the  others  made  their  escape. 

By  indefatigible  exertions  Gen.  Atkinson  succeeded,  in  less 
than  three  weeks,  in  calling  out  a  new  militia  mounted  force, 
(for  it  was  already  found  that  the  war  could  not  be  successfully 
prosecuted  against  a  well-mounted  enemy,  by  infantry  alone), 
in  organizing  it  anew,  and  in  procuring  provisions  and  land 
transportation  for  a  new  movement. 

In  the  meantime,  however,  several  little  affairs  occurred. — 
Two  companies  of  regular  troops,  with  a  company  of  mounted 
men,  had  been  despatched  to  Kellogg's  Grove,  for  the  purpose 
of  occupying  the  country  between  Rock  and  Fever  Rivers,  and 
dispersing  a  party  of  the  enemy  known  to  be  lurking  there- 
in. While  there,  the  Indians,  who  daily  watched  the  move- 
ments of  this  detachment  and  the  different  portions  of  it,  in 

11 


INDIAN  CAMPAIGN  OF  1832 


their  various  excursions,  carefully  avoided  the  regular  troops ; 
but,  seizing  their  opportunity,  they  attacked  the  militia  on  their 
return  to  the  camp,  and  beat  them,  killing  three  of  their  num- 
ber. The  Indians  lost  four.  After  remaining  at  Kellogg's 
Grove  ten  days,  this  party  was  ordered  in,  and  it  was  replaced 
by  a  battalion  of  militia  250  strong,  commanded  by  Major  De- 
ment. This  battalion,  the  day  after  their  arrival  at  the  posi- 
tion, was  attacked  and  defeated  by  130  Indians  under  command 
of  the  Black  Hawk,  who  drove  the  whites  into  their  stockade, 
and  besieged  them,  until  relieved  by  Gen.  Pozey  with  the  residue 
of  the  brigade,  when  the  Indians  leisurely  withdrew.  About 
this  time,  also,  Gen.  Dodge,  (now  Col.  Dodge  of  the  United 
States'  Dragoons)  with  a  party  of  28  mounted  men,  learned 
that  certain  murders  ha.d  been  committed  in  the  neighborhood 
of  Fort  Hamilton,  and  pursued  the  murderers.  Dodge  and  his 
party  overtook  the  enemy,  (who  they  found  to  be  a  party  of 
fifteen  Sauks),  and  after  a  sharp  conflict,  killed  every  one  of 
them  with  loss  of  three  whites. 

On  the  28th  of  June,  the  army  again  advanced  on  the  enemy. 
Our  force  consisted  of  upwards  of  400  regular  infantry,  and 
Henry's  brigade  of  1,000  mounted  militia.  Brig.  Gen.  Brady, 
of  the  United  States  Army,  had  in  the  meantime  joined,  and 
by  order  of  Gen.  A.  assumed  command  of  this  division  of  regu- 
lars and  militia.  A  company  of  regulars  were  left  to  guard  the 
depot  at  Dixon's  Ferry,  and  Pozey's  and  Alexander's  brigades 
detached  and  disposed  so  as  to  protect  the  settlements.  On 
the  third  of  July  we  found  ourselves  in  the  neighborhood  of  the 
enemy,  who,  however,  occupied  an  inaccessible  position,  in  a 
swamp  a  few  miles  from  us.  They  had  retired  before  us,  and 
in  several  instances  we  found  in  their  camps  scalps  and  heads 
previously  taken  and  left  in  triumph.  They  also  for  several 
days,  left  in  their  camps  a  sort  of  guide-post,  with  a  wisp  of 
hay  done  up,  and  so  fixed  as  to  indicate  their  direction.  This 

12 


INDIAN  CAMPAIGN  OF  1832 


however,  was  mere  bravado,  as  they  avoided  a  conflict,  though 
it  was  eagerly  sought  by  the  army.  The  force  of  the  enemy, 
at  this  time,  could  not  have  been  far  from  1,000  efficient  war- 
riors, nearly  all  mounted. 

Our  marching  had  became  exceedingly  disagreeable  and  dif- 
ficult ;  wading  through  swamps  and  morasses ;  our  provisions 
and  baggage  on  pack-horses,  frequently  damaged  and  falling 
short  by  the  horses  sinking  in  the  swamps.  Every  exertion 
h#d  been  made  to  procure  guides,  but  in  vain.  Such  Winne- 
bagoes  or  Pottawattomies  as  joined  us  or  could  be  taken  were 
either  ignorant  or  treacherous. 

On  the  6th  of  July  we  reached  a  deep  and  muddy  stream, 
called,  most  inaptly,  white  water,  beyond  which,  we  were  in- 
formed by  the  Winnebagoes,  we  should  find  the  enemy.  With 
much  difficulty  we  forded  or  swam  this  stream,  or  rather  the 
first  of  its  three  branches ;  and  after  a  perplexing  march  of 
twelve  or  fifteen  miles,  we  arrived  where  the  friendly  Indians 
assured  the  General  with  one  voice,  that  further  advance  was 
impossible,  having  arrived,  as  they  said,  and  as  it  appeared,  at 
a  wilderness  of  that  description  of  morass  called  by  the  French 
terre  tremblante.  We  had  no  resource  but  to  retrace  our  march, 
for  the  purpose  of  reaching  and  crossing  Rock  River,  to  reach 
the  enemy  by  moving  up  the  other  bank.  Arrived  again  at  the 
mouth  of  White  water,  the  mounted  force  under  Generals  Henry 
and  Dodge  was  despatched  with  the  pack  horses  to  Fort  Win- 
nebago  for  provisions. 

Under  these  vexations  and  disappointments,  we  had  the  sat- 
isfaction of  knowing  that  our  enemy  were  completely  besieged; 
cut  off  from  all  their  resources.  Gen.  Atkinson  knew  that  they 
must  soon  be  driven  by  famine  to  give  us  battle  or  to  retreat 
from  their  present  position,  when  he  had  little  doubt  of  over- 
taking them.  He  therefore  took  such  measures  as  prevented 
their  escape.  To  enable  a  company  to  guard  our  provisions 

13 


INDIAN  CAMPAIGN  OF  1832 


and  sick,  when  we  should  again  advance,  a  stockade  was  erected, 
which  was  called  Fort  Kosh-ko-nong.  Here  we  learned  by  des- 
patches from  Major  Gen.  Scott  to  our  commander,  of  the  ar- 
rival of  that  officer  with  his  troops  at  Chicago,  and  that  the 
"Asiatic  cholera"  was  raging  among  them — this  was  the  first 
intimation  any  individual  of  our  command  had  received  of  the 
existence  of  this  disease  on  this  continent.  We  also  received 
other  disagreeable  and  mortifying  intelligence  through  the  pub- 
lic prints  and  from  other  sources — the  censure  conveyed  in  in- 
sinuations and  inuendoes  by  certain  prints ;  the  information 
from  private  letters ;  and  perhaps  the  tone  of  official  despatches, 
all  gave  us  too  clearly  to  understand,  that  thus  far  for  our 
toil,  exposure,  and  exertions,  we  had  received  nothing  but  cen- 
sure; how  unjustly,  every  individual  of  the  army  knew  and  felt. 

On  the  arrival  of  the  provisions,  a  new  guide  (an  Indian 
chief),  was  procured,  who  promised  to  conduct  the  army  to  the 
enemy's  camp ;  his  services  were  gladly  accepted,  and  the  army 
once  more  advanced,  through  the  swamps,  in  the  direction  of 
the  enemy.  When  again  within  a  few  hours  march  of  them,  the 
night  set  in  with  the  most  tremendous  storm  of  rain  and  wind, 
thunder  and  lightning,  that  the  writer  ever  witnessed.  Before 
morning,  an  officer  overtook  us  with  information  from  Gen.  Hen- 
ry, that  the  enemy  had  retreated,  by  crossing  Rock  River,  and 
that  the  mounted  corps  of  Henry  and  Dodge,  having  fallen  on 
the  fresh  trail  of  the  retreating  Indian  army,  had  taken  that 
trail  in  pursuit,  after  despatching  the  express  to  Gen.  Atkin- 
son. Instantly  we  commenced  our  retrograde  movement  again ; 
that  evening  arrived  at  Fort  Kosh-ko-nong:  the  next  day  passed 
round  Lake  Kosh-ko-nong,  and  forded  Rock  River  below  the 
lake. 

Our  marches  were  now  forced  and  severe.  One  day  we 
marched,  it  is  believed,  near  twenty  miles,  during  a  hot  day, 
without  water.  Before  the  arrival  of  the  army  at  the  Wiscon- 

14 


INDIAN  CAMPAIGN  OF  1832 


sin,  we  were  met  by  the  intelligence  that  Henry  and  Dodge  had 
come  up  with  and  attacked  the  rear  of  the  enemy  near  the  river, 
and  defeated  it.  Rafts  were  forthwith  constructed  at  the  Wis- 
consin, and  the  army  crossed  that  river,  at  a  small  place  called 
Helena,  on  the  27th  of  July;  and  within  two  hours  afterwards 
struck  the  trail  of  the  enemy.  Their  trail  gave  evidence  that 
their  numbers  must  be  considerable.  Their  order  of  march  was 
in  three  parallel  columns.  Over  the  dry  prairie,  the  route  of 
each  column  was  worn  from  two  to  six  inches  in  the  earth ;  and 
where  the  ground  was  such  as  for  a  moment  to  interrupt  their 
reguler  order  of  march,  their  trail  appeared  like  an  ordinary 
road  which  had  been  travelled  for  years,  wanting  only  the  tracks 
of  wheels. 

From  this  time  until  we  reached  the  Mississippi,  we  contin- 
ued without  deviation  to  follow  the  trail  of  the  enemy,  having 
no  other  guide ;  and  it  led,  doubtless  with  a  view  of  baffling  the 
army,  over  such  a  country  as,  I  venture  to  say,  has  seldom  been 
marched  over:  at  one  moment  ascending  hills,  which  appeared 
almost  perpendicular;  through  the  thickest  forest;  then  plung- 
ing through  morasses ;  fording  to  our  necks,  creeks  and  rivers ; 
passing  defiles,  where  a  hundred  resolute  men  might  repulse 
thousands,  whatever  their  courage  or  capacity ;  next  clambering 
up  and  down  mountains  perfectly  bald,  without  so  much  as  a 
bush  to  sustain  a  man.  It  was  in  this  march  that  our  infantry 
regained  their  confidence  in  their  own  powers,  which  (lacking 
the  powers  of  rapid  locomotion  to  make  a  dash  against  the 
enemy)  had  been  somewhat  impaired  early  in  the  campaign. 
They  far  outmarched  the  horsemen,  nearly  all  of  whose  horses 
were  broken  down. 

The  enemy  were  under  the  impression  that  it  was  impossible 
for  us  to  follow  them ;  and  to  that  error  we  probably  owe  our 
ultimate  success  in  overtaking  them,  or  at  least  in  bringing 
them  to  action,  on  grounds  of  equality.  We,  each  day,  made 

15 


INDIAN  CAMPAIGN  OF  1832 


two  of  their  day's  marches,  and  passed  one  or  two  of  their 
camps.  We  frequently  passed  their  dead,  who,  exhausted  by 
wounds  or  fatigue,  had  expired,  and  fallen  from  their  horses: 
on  the  1st  of  August  we  passed  the  bodies  of  eleven.  A  little  be- 
fore sunset  that  day,  we  learned  from  a  prisoner  that  the  enemy 
were  but  a  few  miles  in  advance  of  us.  Up  to  this  time,  not 
a  man  of  the  army  knew  where  we  were,  save  that  we  were  north 
of  the  Wisconsin,  and  on  the  enemy's  track.  We  marched  until 
after  dark,  hastily  encamped,  slept  two  or  three  hours,  when 
reveillee  beat,  and  we  were  again  in  march  before  daybreak  on 
the  2nd  of  August. 

At  a  little  after  sunrise,  we  discovered  the  curtain  of  mist 
hanging  over  the  Mississippi,  and  the  scouts  in  advance  (a  de- 
tachment of  Dodge's  corps)  announced  the  vicinity  of  the  en- 
emy. We  were  halted  for  an  instant,  our  knapsacks  and  bag- 
guge  thrown  off,  and  our  pack  horses  left.  We  then  advanced 
rapidly  into  the  timbered  land ;  and  the  occasional  shots  in  ad- 
vance confirmed  the  report  of  the  scouts.  This  firing  was  from 
a  select  rear-guard  of  the  enemy,  about  seventy  in  number. 

Our  order  of  battle  was  promptly  arranged,  under  the  per- 
sonal supervision  of  Gen.  Atkinson ;  the  centre  composed  of  the 
regular  troops,  about  380  in  number,  and  Dodge's  corps,  about 
150;  the  right,  of  the  remains  of  Pozey's  and  Alexander's  bri- 
gades, probably  in  all  250  men;  the  left,  of  Henry's  brigade,  in 
number  not  far  from  400  men.  This  last  was,  throughout  the 
campaign,  a  most  excellent  militia  brigade,  and  well  commanded. 
The  army  advanced  by  heads  of  companies,  over  a  space  of  two 
or  three  miles.  At  length,  after  descending  a  bluff,  almost  per- 
pendicular, we  entered  a  bottom  thickly  and  heavily  wooded,  cov- 
ered also  with  much  underbrush  and  fallen  timber,  and  over- 
grown with  rank  weeds  and  grass ;  plunged  through  a  bayou  of 
stagnant  water,  our  men  as  usual  holding  up  their  arms  and 
cartridge  boxes.  A  moment  after,  we  heard  the  yells  of  the 
enemy ;  closed  with  them,  and  the  action  commenced. 

16 


INDIAN  CAMPAIGN  OF  1832 


As  I  have  already  been  more  prolix  than  I  had  intended,  I 
refer  your  readers  to  the  official  account  of  the  battle.  Suffice 
it  to  say,  that  quarters  were  in  no  instance  asked  or  granted. 
The  official  reports  give  the  number  of  killed  of  the  enemy,  at 
150;  though  doubtless  many  were  killed  in  the  river  and  else- 
where, whose  bodies  were  never  seen  afterwards.  Our  loss  was 
but  27,  among  whom  was  one  officer,  Lieut.  Bowman,  a  gallant 
fellow  of  Henry's  brigade.  This  disparity  of  loss  was  probablv 
owing  to  the  rapid  charge  made  by  our  troops  on  the  enemy, 
giving  them  time  to  deliver  but  one  confused  fire.  About  150 
horses  were  taken  or  killed.  The  Black  Hawk,  the  Prophet,  and 
some  other  chiefs  escaped  from  the  action,  but  were  bi  ought  in 
by  the  Winnebagoes,  and  the  friendly  portion  of  the  Sauks,  and 
ultimately  delivered  to  the  commanding  general. 

After  the  action,  100  Sioux  warriors  presented  themselves, 
and  asked  leave  to  pursue  on  the  trail  of  such  of  the  enemy  as 
had  escaped.  This  was  granted,  and  the  Sioux,  after  two  days' 
pursuit,  overtook  and  killed  50  or  60,  mostly,  it  is  feared,  women 
or  children. 

The  afternoon  previous  to  the  action,  the  steamboat  Warrior, 
on  her  return  from  the  Sioux  villages  above,  Avith  some  officers 
and  20  or  30  soldiers  of  the  United  States  Army,  discovered  the 
Indian  army  on  the  bank  of  the  Mississippi,  (exactly  where 
General  Atkinson  subsequently  attacked  them)  engaged  in  con- 
structing rafts  and  other  means  of  crossing  the  river.  The 
enemy  for  some  time  endeavoured  to  decoy  the  steamboat  to  the 
shore,  assuring  those  on  board  that  they  (the  Indians)  were 
Winnebagoes,  &c.  A  sharp  skirmish  was  finally  the  result,  in 
which  several  of  the  Indians  were  killed,  and  one  soldier  wounded. 
The  Indian  loss  is  differently  reported  by  themselves  at  from 
7  to  23.  The  steamboat  returned  to  Prairie  des  Chiens,  and 
arrived  again  opportunely  at  the  close  of  the  action  the  follow- 
ing day. 

17 


INDIAN  CAMPAIGN  OF  1832 


The  troops  moved  down  the  river  to  Prairie  des  Chiens,  where 
they  were  met  by  Maj.  Gen.  Scott,  who  with  his  staff  had  left 
the  brigade  at  Chicago,  prostrated  by  an  enemy  far  more  ter- 
rible than  the  savages — the  cholera — and  was  hastening  to  take 
part  in  the  campaign.  The  wounded  were  left  at  this  place,  and 
the  army  descended  to  Rock  Island,  where  they  arrived  in  fine 
health  and  spirits  on  the  9th  of  August.  Indeed,  it  is  astonish- 
ing how  perfectly  healthy  the  troops  had  been  during  much  and 
great  exposure  to  the  ordinary  causes  of  disease;  up  to  this 
time,  not  a  death  from  disease  had  occurred  during  the  cam- 
paign, among  the  regular  troops.  They  had  borne,  without  the 
slightest  murmur,  their  fatigues  and  privations,  and  scarcely  an 
occasion  for  the  most  trifling  punishment  had  been  given,  from 
the  time  the  army  took  the  field.  It  has  never  been  the  fortune 
of  the  writer,  during  a  service  of  twenty  years,  to  witness  for  a 
length  of  time,  the  conduct  of  any  command  so  perfectly  ex- 
emplary. 

About  the  20th  of  August  the  troops  from  Chicago  arrived 
under  the  command  of  Col.  Eustis,  and  were  encamped  about 
four  miles  from  the  command  of  General  Atkinson.  Poor  fel- 
lows !  we  listened  with  sincere  condolence  to  the  tale  of  their 
wretched  sufferings  from  disease;  few  of  us  imagining  that  we 
should  call  on  them,  so  soon,  to  reciprocate  our  sympathy. 

About  the  26th  of  August,  a  case  of  cholera  exhibited  itself ; 
this  was  followed  by  several  others,  and  the  ravages  of  this 
shocking  disease  then  became  truly  dreadful.  The  troops  were 
encamped  in  wretched  tents,  in  close  order  of  encampment,  and 
for  several  days  of  continued  cold  rain,  the  pestilence  raged. 
Every  man  in  camp  could  hear  the  groans  and  screams  of  each 
individual  attacked  by  spasms,  which  added  greatly  to  the  hor- 
rors of  the  scene.  During  a  very  few  days,  four  officers  and 
upwards  of  fifty  rank  and  file,  out  of  about  three  hundred  in- 
fantry, became  its  victims.  The  rangers,  also  (encamped  near 

18 


INDIAN  CAMPAIGN  OF  1832 


them)  suffered  severely.  It  is  but  rendering  justice  to  Major- 
General  Scott  (then  our  commander)  to  say,  that  his  conduct  at 
Rock  Island  during  the  period  of  horrors,  was  worthy  the  hero 
of  Chippewa,  Fort  George  and  Niagara,  By  his  example,  ex- 
citing confidence  and  courage;  fearlessly  exposing  himself  to 
disease  and  death,  in  its  most  terrible  form,  in  his  attentions 
alike  to  the  officer  and  the  private  soldier;  while  he  enforced, 
with  the  most  vigilant  care,  the  strictest  sanitary  regulations. 
At  length  the  troops  were  moved  across  the  Mississippi  (not  out 
of  sight  of  their  late  camp),  and  the  pestilence  ceased. 

The  Indians  sued  for  peace.  A  treaty  was  held  at  Rock  Is- 
land, by  which  the  whole  country  east  of  the  Mississippi,  called 
the  mining  district,  and  a  large  tract  on  the  west  bank  (prob- 
ably in  the  whole  about  8,000,000  acres),  was  ceded  to  the 
United  States,  and  all  the  surviving  insurgent  chiefs  of  note 
were  to  remain  in  confinement,  as  hostages,  during  the  pleasure 
of  the  President. 

And  thus  ended  the  Sauk  War ! 

About  the  28th  of  September,  the  troops  were  ordered  to  their 
respective  stations. 

In  the  foregoing  narrative,  the  writer  is  aware  that  he  might 
have  more  interested  his  readers  by  details  of  individual  scenes ; 
but  the  fear  of  being  insufferably  prolix,  has  induced  him  to 
confine  himself  to  a  general  account  of  the  campaign,  leaving 
the  minutiae  to  some  future  opportunity.  He  is  aware,  that  in 
his  views  of  causes  and  results,  he  must  necessarily  differ  from 
some,  but  he  believes  this  narrative  will  be  acknowledged  to  be 
in  the  main  correct.  H. 


19 


UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS-URBAN* 

973.562SMSE  C004 

THE  EXPEDITION  AGAINST  THE  SAUK  AND  FOX 


30112025365914 


